Few questions about printing(what pixel size for 4x6 prints and prints come out dark)

Two general questions about printing:1) When printing 4x6, what is an acceptable pixel size? Or is it better to just specify the size of prints? For example, I usually convert the raw file into jpeg and the resulting picture size is about 2700 X 2200 pixels (I have 20D camera). I think 2700 X 2200 pixel size is an overkill for 4x6 prints. I usually print my 4x6 prints from online and it would help me if my file sizes are smaller.2) When I print my pictures, the pictures come out dark. Thus I tend to change the exposure setting to more positive - thus adding more brightness to my picture. I have tried editing my pictures on both Dell 1905 Flat Panel and Dell 21" CRT monitors - and pictures come out dark. I am thinking maybe I need to calibrate my monitors. I have Canon Pixma 8500 printer and I usually use the Canon printing software. Generally I can compensate for the dark picture by adding the option from the Canon printing software (by changing the "face brightness" option).Thank you....

As for printing, what I do is this. I find out the resolution of the printer being used, and then I resize to the appropriate size for that resolution. If you're using photoshop it's fairly easy to do under the "image size" menu. First set the resolution according to the max resolution of your printer, and then set the image size to the image size you want printed. This will give you exactly the amount of pixels you need, no more, no less. If you want to save on pixel space, you can set the resolution to something less than your printer's maximum, however you'll experience a degradation in quality as a result.

My monitor is calibarated but when I print the pics are too dark. I have to increase brightness 20-30% for it to come out of the printer similar to what is on the monitor. This is with and Epson esc880.

You can also do the resizing by using the Crop Tool and pre-setting your width, height and PPI. Depending on the print size ratio, you may get the entire image in the crop.For example, I shoot Large/Fine Jpeg which is 3072 pxW x 2048 pxH. I can set the width to "6 in", the height to "4 in" and the PPI to 300 or whatever, and I get a full image crop. If I'm doing multiple 4x6's, PS keeps what was last used and I just drag the crop tool around and click on the checkmark. Very simple.With the above, you'd loose some of the image when cropping 5x7 or 8x10 prints but it's great for 4x6.Best of luck.

HrcRacing wrote:With the above, you'd loose some of the image when cropping 5x7 or 8x10 prints but it's great for 4x6.Best of luck.

This is (or can be) true and something to look out for. My shots just have a 1/4 inch white border above and beneath the image itself when printed, which I'm not overly bothered by, not as much as having to recrop the image anyway. It is something I should have mentioned though

Matt,Could you explain your process a little more? Are you saying that you uncheck the Resample Image box to maintain, for example 3072 x 2048 pixels then adjust the document size and/or PPI? When I do that, my resolution goes from 180 to 512. If I adjust the PPI to 300, the document size goes to around 6x10.In other words, I'm loosing total pixels to maintain a 4x6 document size at 300 PPI or, if I maintain the pixels, my PPI is 512.

HrcRacing wrote:Matt,Could you explain your process a little more? Are you saying that you uncheck the Resample Image box to maintain, for example 3072 x 2048 pixels then adjust the document size and/or PPI? When I do that, my resolution goes from 180 to 512. If I adjust the PPI to 300, the document size goes to around 6x10.In other words, I'm loosing total pixels to maintain a 4x6 document size at 300 PPI or, if I maintain the pixels, my PPI is 512.

i don't uncheck anything, - this is what i do

out of the camera, my shots are 180DPI (if jpeg, 300 if they're raw)i open them in photoshop CS2i select the "rectangular marquee tool"set it to "Fixed Aspect Ratio" of 4 wide, and 6 high (or vise versa if it's landscape)then i select what i want,i go image > cropthen i goto image > image sizeand in image size, i change the '180' in "resolution" under the document size (pixels/inch) to 300 when doing the 180 to 300 - the pixels will change, but the document size should stay how it is, ignore everything else, it'll constrain proporsions.

wallah, the image will look bigger on your screen, but don't stress. it's not blowing out any pixels unless you're printing it on the side of a truck, haha

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